As Fred Thompson enters his fourth season with the Army women's soccer program, he does so in an elevated role. After spending his first three seasons under head coach Stefanie Golan, Thompson was named the program's interim head coach upon the announcement of Golan's departure. Golan was named the head women's soccer coach at Minnesota on June 27, 2012.
During his time on the banks of the Hudson, Thompason has proven to be the perfect person to help steer the program as the Black Knights are coming off one of the finest seasons in program history.
Last fall Thompson helped architect Army's star-studded season as the Black Knights captured their fifth regular-season Patriot League title (first since 2002) along with serving as tournament host. Army shattered the school mark for shutouts (16) that had been on the books since 1993, along with ranking No. 1 nationally throughout the season in goals-against average, shutout percentage and save percentage, and as high as third in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Prior to his arrival at West Point, Thompson had served the previous five years as the head men's soccer coach at Bowling Green (18-69-8) following a two-year stint as an assistant coach at the University of Evansville (2002-03). His first head coaching assignment was at Bellevue (Wash.) Community College (2000-01) where he compiled a 28-8-6 mark after guiding the men's soccer team to the conference title in 2001 after being a finalist in 2000. He was also honored as the NWAACC (Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges) Coach of the Year.
While at Bellevue, Thompson also served as the assistant on the women's soccer staff (2001). He broke into the collegiate coaching ranks in 1999 as an assistant men's soccer coach at Green River Community College (Wash.).
A four-year starter during his undergraduate days at George Mason University, Thompson was a two-time All-South Atlantic Region honoree. He earned All-ECAC South honors his junior year and was named to the All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) squad that year as well. He was also a three-time All-Capital Collegiate Conference and All-Virginia Intercollegiate League selection.
Thompson was part of three George Mason teams that ranked in the Top 20 nationally during his playing career prior to earning his bachelor of science degree in finance (1987). In 1982, he led the Patriots to a 17-0-0 regular-season mark and final 19-2-0 record, while the team's .905 winning percentage was the third best in state history. Individually, he is ranked in the Top 20 on the all-time career point list for players of Virginia universities, and in the Top 15 on the career goals list.
He was recently named to the All-Time Colonial Athletic Association Team at the conference's 25th anniversary celebration. Thompson was among a select group of all-time greats who dominated the pitch in the 1980s.
Following graduation, the native of Jamaica played professionally for eight years with the Baltimore Blast of the MISL, Tacoma Stars of the MSL and the Sacramento Knights of the CISL as a defender. He was also the starting sweeper for the Jamaican National Team (1988-90), and was part of history after helping his squad advance beyond the opening round of the World Cup qualification for the first time.
Involved in coaching youth (both boys and girls) since 1983, he served with the Washington State Olympic Development Program as well as the Region II ODP staff. From 1993-99 he was involved with the FC United Premier Soccer Club in Tacoma, Wash. He was also the head coach for the U19 (1997-98) and U14 (194-95) while an assistant coach for the U13 (1993-94). Thompson holds a USSF "A" coaching license.
Thompson and his wife, Jill, reside at West Point, N.Y.
